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(10/14/18 10:58pm)
by Tanner Kinney
Before the screening of Nathan’s Kingdom, director and screenwriter Olicer Muñoz spoke about how the film was about a journey, much like the filmmaking process itself. Over the course of ten years of production, five of those years for filming, and numerous hardships, Muñoz clearly put boatloads of passion into the film. I kept his story in mind during the screening, thinking about all the time, the hardships, and the triumphs that must have occurred during production. This journey on its own is worth telling, and that’s not even to include the journey he created for the characters within Nathan’s Kingdom. All of it comes together and, despite some rough patches within the movie, results in a very heartwarming experience.
Nathan’s Kingdom initially stood out to me because the titular character Nathan is on the autism spectrum. This made me skeptical, because many production companies are afraid to tackle mental health related issues in a realistic manner. Muñoz purposefully casted the role of Nathan to be played by an actor (Jacob Lince) who himself is on the autism spectrum. This makes the character feel completely real in a way that I’ve never seen done before in a film. Nathan and his relationships with everyone else, particularly his sister Laura (played by Madison Ford) seem to be plucked straight from life experiences. Watching how Nathan moved through the world I saw many shades of my little brother who is on the autism spectrum. Nathan is absolutely the star of the show, and his struggles cut more deeply than I could have imagined walking into the film.
The narrative itself is, like Muñoz described, one of a journey. But it’s not just about Nathan’s journey to find his kingdom. It’s a story of siblings learning to connect despite the barriers that lie between them. Laura clearly is unable to properly handle Nathan on her own, but doesn’t believe anyone else can handle it. Her family ties are more powerful than her desire to escape and abandon Nathan. This can mostly be accredited to a great performance by Madison Ford, perfectly capturing the confliction and resentment the character has built up inside. The character of Laura could have been one that, if played improperly, would just make the audience hate her. Yet, whenever she loses her temper with Nathan, I felt more inclined to sympathize with her. There’s clearly much more going on than what we are shown, although maybe some of that could be self-projection onto the film. When it all finally resolves it creates a sense of overwhelming joy that makes the heartache worth it. The audience can find their own kingdom within Laura and Nathan’s journey.
Another fantastic addition to the film that I never expected was the storybook sequences included within the film. These animated sequences are inspired by the drawings within Nathan’s notebook, and both of the ones included are beautifully animated. The long sequence while Laura and Nathan exploring the dark mine, in particular, is a wonderful expression of child-like imagination. The audience gets a look into Nathan’s mind; how he sees the world and his own story. It’s hard to not get absorbed into that world during these sequences, with all of the wonderfully creepy, hand-drawn imagery. These were much more preferable to the couple short CGI sequences which, while they weren’t bad, looked nowhere near as good as the animation. It would have been neat to see more of it, but then the charm might have outworn its welcome.
Despite all of these great things, there are still a couple of gripes with the film that make me reluctant to declare it perfection. The cinematography is the biggest culprit here. When the film is taking in the scenery, playing and interacting within Nathan’s fantasy world, the camerawork is fantastic. The main problem lies in the scenes where Nathan and Laura are interacting outside of a make-pretend world. It may just be a pet peeve of mine, and I get the artistic value, but I can’t stand by using shaky-cam within a film. The effect is that it makes a film more gritty and realistic, and that’s fine. It also induces motion sickness and generally just makes the film harder to watch. The few shots that used a drone as well are noticeably cheap looking, with the drone camera being significantly lower in quality. Those two things served as my main problems with the film, but it’s something that many people can ignore to get lost in the world this movie creates.
The final thing to ask is: does this film succeed as a “feel-good” movie? The answer is easily a yes. The best parts of the film were when Laura and Nathan are playing together, laughing, joking, enjoying each others company. It was so incredibly heartwarming to watch these sequences where both let go of their problems and just play. Laura in the film describes it as Nathan’s coping mechanism, much like her drug habit (which admittedly doesn’t really play a huge part in the film, despite it being shown so frequently). I thought back to home, when I was a kid trying to play with my little brother despite the communication barrier. I would play games with him, I helped him learn how to use a computer, and so many other memories that this movie made me remember. It takes a lot to make me cry during a film, but seeing these sequences turned on the waterworks. This film can do a lot of good to teach people how to communicate with those with developmental disorders, and that alone makes it worthy of its spot at Heartland.
(10/14/18 5:19am)
by Emily Reuben
When perusing the film line-up for Heartland Film Festival this year, the film that immediately caught my attention was 93Queen. The documentary follows Rachel Freier or “Ruchie”, a Hasidic mother and lawyer who shook up the male dominated Hasidic community by creating Ezras Nashim, the first all-female ambulance corps in New York City. It is rare for Hasidic communities, especially women in these communities, to be highlighted through film, so the concept is certainly unique. However, what specifically caught my interest was the concept of hearing the voices of the women within this community. I wanted to hear about their experience breaking boundaries and fighting to change their community in the male-dominated Hasidic society. I am glad to say that 93Queen exceeded my expectations.
The film informs us immediately that Hasidic women are expected to be modest. This means that women doing work outside of mothering children or tending to familial tasks is frowned upon within the society. This expectation of modesty extends to physicality, as women do not have sexual relationships, kiss, or even touch men before marriage. The issue that arises from this is that many women are intimidated by calling for emergency services, specifically Hatzolah, the strictly male-run emergency care corps, for fear of being touched or looked at by men while in an immodest state.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3m7p1r-RDg[/embed]
Ezras Nashim recognizes the need for a female-run emergency care corps for women in the Hasidic community. However, Ezras Nashim faces constant bullying and intimidation from Hatzolah and members within the community. The film constantly reminds us that while the efforts of Ezras Nashim are noble and very much needed, stubborn adherence traditional ideals can easily stunt progress and neglect the needs of members in a community. Some of the film’s most impactful moments stem from the resistance towards Ruchie’s efforts and truly emphasize just how much adversity she and Ezras Nashim faced within their own community. The documentary does an excellent job showcasing the determination of Ruchie and Ezras Nashim while simultaneously educating the audience about the traditional roles of women within the community.
Film director Paula Eiselt is a Hasidic woman herself, which works to the film’s benefit. It is clear that Eiselt understands the gravity of what the women in the film are trying to accomplish and does an excellent job of introducing outsiders to Hasidic culture by allowing the women to go about their daily lives virtually uninterrupted. We are able to follow Ruchie, the film’s primary subject, as she cooks for her family, goes to work at her law practice, prays, and as she organizes Ezras Nashim. Just from watching her do these various everyday tasks, we are allowed to see an insider's perspective of her religion and tradition in an organic, respectful manner. Even more importantly, Eiselt gives Ruchie and the other volunteers at Ezras Nashim a platform to share their views, address their struggles, and showcase their success.
Something that I genuinely appreciate it the clear respect for the subjects and communities being show, but what I also find admirable is that the documentary is careful to remain honest and transparent. Ruchie is a human-being, and like every human-being she has faults. I’m glad that these faults were not shied away from, as they only serve to make her more human and relatable.
The film is incredibly well-done and showcases the power and dedication of women. While Ruchie may not consider herself a feminist, she has indisputably helped to pave the way for Hasidic women and other minority women to follow their chosen careers and challenge patriarchal society, and to me that screams feminism.
(10/12/18 1:00pm)
by Savanna Keller
Typically, people watch comedy movies to sit down, relax, and step away from the stress that life can bring. Comedies are a great source of light-hearted entertainment that promise a good laugh, and Night School (released September 28) seems like a movie that will do just that. This movie is produced by Will Packer, the same man responsible for producing the movies Ride Along and Girls Trip, and Kevin Hart, the star of the movie.
Teddy Walker, a man who struggles with learning disabilities, drops out of high school and makes a point of proving he can have an amazing life without an education. In the beginning he has it all, an awesome car, a successful salesman job selling outdoor patio furniture with the promise of one day owning the business, and let’s not forget the ever-popular movie trope: the hot dream girl that every man wants, Lisa (Megalyn Echikunwoke). After a proposal gone wrong, Teddy blows up his place of employment and his world is turned upside down. To get a new job, he must attend night school.
(10/11/18 10:27pm)
by Katherine Simon
Disclaimer: This episode contains spoilers for this episode and previous episodes of Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
Ever since the Diamond is Unbreakable finale aired near the end of 2016, fans of the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure anime have been anxiously waiting for David Productions’ animated adaptation of the manga’s fifth part, Vento Aureo. After nearly two years of waiting, fans have finally been graced with the latest animated Jojo part and, no pun intended, it’s off to a golden start.
Vento Aureo takes place in 2001, two years after the events of Diamond is Unbreakable, and focuses on Giorno Giovanna, the illegitimate son of former series antagonist Dio Brando. After Jotaro Kujo learns about the potential existence of Dio’s offspring, he sends Koichi Hirose to Naples, Italy to search for a boy named Haruno Shiobana as part of the Speedwagon Foundation’s research. After arriving at the airport and having his luggage stolen by Giorno, Koichi finds out that Giorno is a Stand user, and that he might be the Haruno Shiobana he was looking for after overhearing how Giorno’s hair color suddenly changed from black to blonde a few years ago due to what could be presumed to be the awakening of his stand.
One thing I really liked about the episode is how it added a few anime exclusive scenes at the beginning to flesh out Giorno’s character and the setting. Unlike in the manga where it just starts with Koichi at the airport, the show takes a few minutes beforehand to establish Giorno as a genuinely kind-hearted person despite his life as a thief, with him returning a woman’s stolen purse and buying an ice cream cone for a hungry child (albeit with money he took from the woman’s purse using his Stand, but hey, it’s the thought that counts). These beginning scenes also showcase the waves of crime that are plaguing Naples, namely theft, drug deals, and corrupt police officers, establishing that this part is going to be a crime drama and a departure from the lighter slice-of-life antics of Part 4.
Along with introducing Giorno, the first episode also showcases his Stand, Gold Experience, which has the ability to temporarily turn any inanimate object into a living organism that can reflect damage back at an enemy when attacked. One of the strongest aspects of ‘Jojo’ is the uniqueness and utility of each Stand’s ability, and Gold Experience is no exception. The power to turn anything into a living organism is an incredibly cool ability that lends itself well for a ton of creative uses, and this episode does a great job at introducing what the Stand is capable of. Some notable highlights include turning Koichi’s luggage into a frog to prevent him from reclaiming it and later using that same frog to deflect a strike from Leaky-Eyed Luca’s shovel. It’s nothing too crazy since this is only the first episode, but it’s still a great example of the Stand’s practical use and combat potential.
Aesthetically, Vento Aureo might be the best-looking part so far, combining the best aspects of Stardust Crusaders’ and Diamond is Unbreakable’s art direction while staying true to the original manga’s art style. Due to the first episode focusing more on exposition rather than heavy amounts of action, we don’t know how good the show’s fight scenes are going to look yet so I can’t really say much for how everything is going to look in motion. All I can say is that I hope the show’s animation quality remains consistent and doesn’t suffer from the quality drops of some of DiU’s later episodes, lest we get a repeat of the Killer Queen incident.
The episode ended on an incredibly strong note, not only giving us an animated version of the infamous and highly exploitable “taste of a liar” scene, but also introducing major character Bruno Bucciarati and setting up Vento Aureo’s first major stand battle between him and Giorno. Bruno’s stand isn’t shown off much, but we do know that it has the ability to create zippers on any surface, which he uses to torture Giorno and interrogate him about the death of Leaky-Eyed Luca. The way Bruno accomplishes this is incredibly unsettling, with him putting the remains of Luca’s corpse in Giorno’s mouth, threatening to put the bus’s fire extinguisher inside Giorno’s neck, killing him instantly. The episode does a really good job making the viewer creeped out by Bruno and establishing him as a threatening opponent.
(10/11/18 10:23pm)
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-519363288/the-coven-s5e2-all-parts-of-bowsette[/embed]
We're back witches, with another magical episode of The Coven podcast. This week, we're looking at Bowsette. What is going on with the internet's explosion over the sexualization of a female, personified Bowser? What does this event mean for the internet and why did it happen? All of this and more on this week's episode of The Coven.
Hosted by: Ashley Curry, Dimitri Napoleon, Peyton Bousman
Edited by: Shwetha Sundarrajan
Graphic by: Daley Wilhelm
Thumbnail by: Katherine Sinkovics
(10/02/18 1:42am)
by Tanner Kinney
Disclaimer: This review is of the Android version and was conducted on a Samsung Galaxy S6
Mobile gaming is, and has for a while been, the new wild west of video gaming. However, we aren’t talking about the lawless, stand-off at high noon, romanticized wild west that Flash gaming was. Mobile gaming is the wild west where everyone is trying to rob and scam you until you die of dysentery. There are so many devious mobile games that seemingly only exist to dupe naive kids into spending their parents money on games with titles like Strange Rope Hero or Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. At the very least, with more competent developers entering the mobile gaming scene, we start to see more quality, fleshed-out experiences that only nickel-and-dime you a little bit.
Nintendo, for instance, has been putting out a number of solid mobile games that don’t feel like extreme cash grabs to a casual player. Super Mario Run was a solid game, Fire Emblem Heroes was surprisingly good despite a lack of depth, and Pokemon Quest might actually be my favorite of the bunch because of how well designed its progression is. I’ve also heard that Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp was pretty entertaining, despite not having played it myself. Now, with Dragalia Lost, Nintendo has proven that despite making a quality game, they too can aggressively nickel-and-dime you like every other mobile developer on the market.
(10/02/18 12:03am)
by Emily Reuben
It would be a massive understatement to say that the creation of film takes an enormous amount of work. Camera operators, editors, light departments, producers, set designers and actors all must work together in perfect harmony if they want to craft a brilliant piece of art. Neglecting even one department can result in absolute disaster. Despite the necessity of various departments and specialists, the first thing that comes to mind for many when discussing film is often the various visual components that make up a film. Editing, staging, choreography, acting, and camera-work often the most discussed aspects of a film, but visuals are hardly the only important aspect of filmmaking.
And similarly to how sound is usually thought of after visuals in film, women working in film live a similar experience, usually being thought of after men in the industry are recognized (if they are thought of at all). One Ball State professor and a team of students sought to change both paradigms by recognizing the work and experiences of the women in the film and television industry who bring sound to life.
Their short film, Amplified: A Conversation with Women in American Film Sound, was created through Ball State’s Virginia Ball Center for Creative Inquiry and crewed by a total of 14 Ball State students. The film celebrates the women who work in Hollywood’s sound departments. From Foley artists to sound editors, Amplified gives a platform to 30 different women working in the male dominated film industry, allowing them to tell their unique stories. After the initial premiere on December 3rd, 2017 at Muncie’s AMC Showplace 12 theater, Amplified was nominated for best documentary at the Long Beach Indie Film Festival and has been featured in various film festivals including Heartland's Indy Shorts Film Festival 2018 and the UFVA film conference. Amplified will also be screening on October 11th at the LA Femme Film Festival.
The film’s director and producer, Ball State Telecommunications Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Endowed Chair Vanessa Ament, has had an extensive career as a Foley artist. Over the course of her career, she has worked on popular titles such as Beauty and the Beast, The Goofy Movie, Edward Scissorhands, and Predator just to name a few.
There is a lot that went into making Amplified, and we spoke to the director wanting to learn more about her thought process as she made her film as well as to learn more about her career working in film sound.
(09/25/18 4:26am)
by Tt Shinkan
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Comic books play a huge role in my life. They’re the reason I love to draw, why I workout, why I try to be the best person I can be. I’ve loved superheros ever since I can remember. Today, comic book movies are just as popular as that stupid Fortnite dance. Everyone has seen at least one Marvel movie and can say they’re a fan of a certain character.
Everyone who knows me knows I’m a huge Wolverine fan as well as an even bigger X-Men fan. I can tell you probably all there needs to be known about the misfit mutant team, but the number one reason why I like them is because they are different. They were born with this unique gift. Every character has this power that makes them unique as well as having something that drives them to be a hero. I feel like I related to them simply because I’m a little different. I’m a girl who enjoys boyish things. Actually, I was a huge tomboy when I was younger. I still consider myself one, but I have since become more “girly” and I really enjoy dressing in cute outfits. Of course I love wearing graphic tees and baseball caps. I embrace the things that make me different, much like these mutants embrace their extraordinary abilities.
However, I can remember a time in my life when comic movies and comics in general weren’t as popular as they are today, and I was actually pretty embarrassed to like them, since girls my age weren’t typically into them. For that, we’re going to have to take a trip back to 2009, back when this girl was just starting the most awkward time of her life: middle school.
Okay, let’s face it, middle school isn’t the best three years of any of our lives. We’re still figuring out who we are as an individual, not to mention puberty. And with those things comes the need to fit in much like how at first, newly fledged mutants want to be normal. Middle schoolers are mean little creatures; they’ll make fun of those not “popular” and “different”. I was one of those “different” girls back in middle school. In elementary school, everyone knew I was into superheros and that I loved Wolverine, but now that I was in a school that contained kids from all three Munster elementary schools, there were a lot of people who didn’t know me. And much like a mutant kid hiding their powers from everyone, I then had to try to hide something that I loved so much. Something that makes me, me. And let me tell you, it was hard.
I felt really weird wearing a simple superhero T-shirt around school because I was afraid people would think I was weird. People already thought I was a bully simply because of my athletic body type. Of course that quickly ended after everyone learned how friendly I was, but me trying to build up enough courage to embrace my comic book love took some time. After tests and during study hall when I didn’t have homework to do, I would read one of my graphic novels. X-Force was my favorite series at the time because it included two of my favorite heroes: Wolverine and X-23. I would bring in one of the hardback graphic novels to school, but take off the cover because I didn’t want anyone to see me reading it. All of this sounds stupid right? Well, it was, but because I felt so weird being a girl who liked something that was meant for boys, I felt like I needed to hide it. I was essentially hiding my mutant power from the world.
But just like Professor X confronted new mutants and took them to the X Mansion, I too, had my own X Mansion: art class. Art class allowed me to be myself. My teachers, much like the Professor, encouraged me to draw what I wanted, and what I wanted to draw were superheros. My 6th grade art teacher even bought a Marvel calendar because she knew I would like it. Most of my projects incorporated some form of comic book related subject matter. Did the kids in my class make fun of me and mock me for it? Sorta. Did I care? Nope! I was finally in my element and I was finally able to embrace what made me, me.
I was put into Honors Art for the rest of middle school, and the teacher for it was a huge advocate for my superhero-inspired artwork. Much like a veteran X-Men helping a new student with their powers, he would help me with the different projects we had to do and figured out ways to incorporate a hero element into them. Today, I’m thankful for both of my art teachers for allowing me to come out of my shell.
By 8th grade everyone knew about my love for comic books and no one cared anymore. The Marvel Cinematic Universe was just starting to become mainstream, and more and more people were getting into comics. In fact, people would ask me about the characters featured in these movies. And by high school, I felt like a fully fledged X-Man. Showing off my powers to a world that treated me as their equal.
Looking back at this experience, I’m glad I experienced it. Much like every great origin story, a hero has to overcome an obstacle in order for them to become someone everyone instantly feels safe as soon as they arrive. I’m not saying that everyone feels like that whenever I show up somewhere, but everyone does know that they can truly be themselves around me, because I’ve known what it’s like to be different. I know it’s impossible to be an actual X-Man, but I like to think of my experience as a real life comic book origin story. I embrace the things that make me different, and I have comic books to thank for that!
(09/17/18 3:44pm)
by Conner Tighe
Carrie Underwood is well-known in the country music world for relying on faith during pressing times. She has a specific style and way of doing her music. No other female country artist can do what Underwood does. Her latest album, Cry Pretty, never shies away from what she knows. Dealing with hardship and loss is the prime theme in this album. She does a great job at keeping her name around among this new wave of country music. Much of country music today consists of one-night-stands gone wrong, repeating phrases over and over and having rap in the background. It seems as almost country has lost its way and I don’t know what that means for the future of country music. There are few artists who have stuck to their way of writing music. Carrie is one of them. This is one of her strengths and why she is great at what she does.
(09/04/18 5:39pm)
By Joe Bursley
Adventure Time. Gravity Falls. Steven Universe. Star vs. The Forces of Evil. It’s not hard to argue that this past decade has seen many great cartoons with well-developed characters, beautiful music, and deep stories begin to overtake the episodic wasteland wrought by Spongebob Squarepants and others. But that is not all these shows have in common, according to some. These and other modern cartoons all suffer, supposedly, from a disease called CalArts’Style by many who critique/complain on the Internet. But what exactly do these critics mean by the term "CalArts" Style?
Also called “Thin-line animation,” the term “CalArts” style is used to, more often than not, criticize the simpler character designs of many shows over the last 8 years or so. Many fans of Western animation have griped about the “simplistic” design of these cartoons, which all seem to feature round eyes, noodle arms, “bean-shaped” heads and “worm-shaped” mouths. And, as much as I hate to give credence to anyone who complains on the internet, I must say: they do have a valid point.
(07/31/18 12:04pm)
By Trevor Sheffield
…We’ve been here before.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, released July 13th, 2018 (a Friday, no less), is a film borrowing from the same school of thought that birthed such films as Rugrats Go Wild!, Alvin and the Chipmunk: Chipwrecked, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Uncle Eddie’s Island Adventure. That special part in a series of films where the writers have seemingly run out of ideas two films in (and the first in the case of Cousin Eddie), and decide to make going on a cruise/going “tropical” the focal point of the third outing.
Regardless, what makes this notable in this case is the presence of one Adam Sandler. Former SNL wunderkind and leading man behind such perennial classics as Billy Madison, Sandler has made himself known for shamelessly shoehorning in his friends and family into his work (Ex. Grown-Ups), and filming movies in exotic locales (Ex. Hawaii for Just Go with It, Africa for Blended, an expensive Royal Caribbean cruise for Jack and Jill) practically as an excuse for a “well-deserved” vacation. I bring this up because Sandler is the leading man of the Hotel Transylvania franchise, and for the first time in his career, he’s making a vacation movie where he can’t actually go on the vacation.
What does this mean for Hotel 3? Well, to say the least, it’s complicated.
(07/31/18 2:09am)
by Jeremy Rogers
Heartland Shorts Film Festival showcased the amazing work of over 200 filmmakers, all having produced films that clocked in at under 40 minutes in length. There were many amazing films on display, and here is one of my favorites from my time at the festival: This World of Ghosts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSZqgWP_xPA&feature=youtu.be
(07/17/18 8:00am)
by Emily Reuben
Disclaimer: This review contains some spoilers for this season and previous episodes of The Handmaid's Tale.
The Handmaid's Tale really is a wild ride, and Season 2 doesn't stop pulling the punches. We have hangings, mutilations, beatings, a whole array of terrible things really. Why do we watch this again?
Because despite all the horrible things that happen, the show is brilliant. Not only is the political commentary relevant (very relevant), the show is beautifully shot, (mostly) well written, and features amazing actors that really bring the characters to life. As long as the show keeps delivering on these things, I will be watching.
But will it keep delivering? Season 2 is definitely entertaining, but it is certainly not without its faults, and many of the writing decisions are largely divisive among viewers. However, despite some gripes here and there and the controversial season finale, The Handmaid's Tale remains one of the most beautiful, well-crafted shows currently streaming.
(06/28/18 11:17pm)
by Tt Shinkan
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Ever since my freshman year of high school, I’ve always wanted to visit Nashville, Tennessee not because I love country music, but because I wanted to see and learn the history of what makes this city “Music City”. After five years of waiting, I was finally able to go, and my experience was nothing short of amazing. Not only did I learn a little bit about the history and evolution of country music, but I felt like I learned a lot about myself as a person as well. So with that short introduction, here’s what it’s like to experience the music culture of The Music City!
(06/23/18 6:00pm)
By Tanner Kinney
Disclaimer: This review is of the Nintendo Switch version of the game and was primarily played in docked mode.
The Nintendo Switch has proved itself to be a very versatile console to match a versatile company like Nintendo. A console that houses both DOOM and Pokemon Quest within the same shop makes for an interesting line-up. As Nintendo slowly gets their main franchises to the Switch, with Pokemon, Metroid, Yoshi, and Smash Bros. coming soon, it’s the constant drip-feed of titles that keep the console alive during dry spells. One of those games is Sushi Striker: The Way of the Sushido. Nintendo, in conjunction with indieszero (developers of the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy series), created an incredibly charming, though somewhat imbalanced game.
(06/20/18 4:00pm)
By Daniel O'Connell
The summer movie season has finally started for 2018. With it brings the usual summer blockbusters and superhero fare that has come to be expected. However, there can be some hidden gems among these movies, and Hotel Artemis is one of them. The directorial debut of Drew Pearce (who created the show No Heroics, and co-wrote the story for Iron Man 3), is a rather good one, aided by an excellent ensemble cast of talented actors.
The film takes place in not-too-distant future Los Angeles. Public utilities like water and power have been privatized, people are rioting in the streets, and black outs are frequent. However, as the Nurse (Jodie Foster, in her first film role in five years) puts it, it’s just another Wednesday. She, along with her orderly/security Everest (Dave Bautista) run the Hotel Artemis, a secret hospital for high end criminals to use in emergency situations. The night at the Artemis seems like a usual Wednesday night, with its guests including a sleazy and surly arms dealer named Acalpulco (Charlie Day), and a sultry and sullen assassin named Nice (Sofia Boutella).
However, the night begins to take an interesting turn when bank robbers Waikiki (Sterling K. Brown) and Honolulu (Brian Tyree Henry) come in for an emergency treatment following a botched bank robbery. The two robbers have unknowingly stolen property from a notorious crime lord known as the “Wolf King of L.A.” (Jeff Goldblum). Specifically, they stole $18 million dollars in yellow diamonds, stored in a fancy looking pen. With the Wolf King on his way for an emergency treatment, as well a cop showing up and begging for help, the Artemis has just become a powder keg waiting to blow.
It is immediately evident from the start that one of the major strengths of the film is its ensemble cast (which was heavily featured in the film’s advertising). Each actor in the film turns in a good, though sometimes just serviceable, performance. However, there are a few stand outs among the cast. The first is Jodie Foster as the Nurse, who has been keeping herself secluded in the Artemis for 22 years due to the guilt over losing her son. The second goes to Sterling K. Brown as Waikiki, a career criminal who has the makings of someone who could make something of himself, but is held back because of the loyalty to his brother Honolulu. Another great performance comes from David Bautista as Everest, who steals every scene he is in with his presence, humor, and clever dialogue. However, the most surprising performance comes from Charlie Day as Acapulco. He takes the usual loudmouth energy of his traditonal roles, and channels it into playing a sleazy, contemptible scumbag of a person. He will have the audience begging for him to get a violent death.
Despite what the advertising may show, there is not a lot of action in the film. However, it more than makes up for it with the interactions between the patrons of the Artemis. The different personalities bounce off of one another, with hints of an implied past between Waikiki and Nice. However, when things start to go to hell in a handbasket, the movie more than makes up for it in the action. With fantastic stunt work and fight scenes being done, the movie makes the waiting for the action up to that point worth it.
However, the movie still has its flaws, namely when it comes to its setting. The riots happening in Los Angeles barely play into the plot at all, and they only serve to get the wounded cop to the Artemis, which could honestly be done without. The only way the story takes advantage of the fact that it set in the future is to have technology such as nanites, organs made from 3D printers, and robotic auto-doctors. Aside from the riots and the future technology, the setting doesn’t seem too different from today. As a matter of fact, the Hotel Artemis wouldn’t feel out of place in the John Wick films.
One element that barely comes into play is the pen containing the yellow diamonds. It is first used to establish that the Wolf King does not take kindly to anyone stealing his property, and that Waikiki and Honolulu have landed in hot water. However, it does not play into anything else. The Wolf King does not even find out about the stolen diamonds.
Another flaw of the film would come down to its plot. The film gets the ball rolling in the opening scene, establishing the setting through news broadcasts, and shows Honolulu and Waikiki’s bank robbery. However, things start to slow down during the second act, which gives time for the Nurse and the Artemis’s patrons to interact with each other. The pacing of the second act will annoy people that are looking for action packed scenes. However, as stated earlier, it makes up of the lack of action in its climax.
(06/18/18 10:29pm)
By Connor Tighe
For those heist movie lovers, this film provides a good twist on a familiar franchise. Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock), leads a pack of women to pull off a large heist at the annual Met Gala. This film takes a fresh spin on the original Ocean's movies that featured George Clooney. Ocean’s Eleven featured all-males and featured Danny’s love interest, played by Julia Roberts, as the only female in the casting. Heist-wise, it’s more complex however not entirely different. Danny attempts to steal cash from a popular casino in Las Vegas that is run by his arch nemesis, Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). Although the film features a cast made up of women, it doesn’t provide that feel that the original movies had. This movie is still worth the peek and is a good symbol for women in the film industry today.
This isn’t the first time this has happened in film history, however. 2016’s Ghostbusters also took the same path as well by casting an all-female cast. It is probably likely we will be seeing some more remakes in “female form” if you will. It’s a time in the film industry where women are beginning to take over originally-casted male roles. The film did a good job with this, although it lacked the suspense that came from the original Ocean's movies.
The casting choices were well-done, featuring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Awkwafina, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter, and even Rihanna. Complete with their own set of skills, they join forces to steal incredibly expensive jewelry at the Met Gala. The plot seems rushed and there seems to be no buildup to the heist. We are introduced to each character briefly and then they attempt the heist.
There is plenty of humor throughout the film, although it seems dry and mediocre. The remake of Ghostbusters also tried to provide more humor during their go around. At times, it feels as if the director was trying too hard to instill humor into the characters. Making Rihanna say random phrases to herself was just plain odd to watch, for example. The characters make the audience feel as if they are with the cast pulling off this heist. Since this is the first big female heist film, we as the audience feel more obligated to see this heist through. There is a sense of likeness among each of the characters. Each woman having completely different personalities yet managing to work together in a high-stress situation.
The heist itself is dull and unoriginal. Stealing jewelry from exhibits seems to be a running joke in most heist movies. You would think that this movie would’ve brought something different to the table, but that’s not the case. The suspense is done well, and the film has several moments of panic as to what will happen next. There were several moments I found myself becoming tense due to the stress in the film. The heist feels exciting despite not being original. Once you have seen the film, the suspense is gone, and I feel as if it’s a “one-time see” type of movie. There is little character development even behind heist-leader, Debbie Ocean. Danny Ocean is only mentioned a handful of times in the film, which felt weird to me due to his legacy. Overall, the film lacks originality. Sandra Bullock delivers an excellent performance as usual, along with the others. It’s nice to see some actresses, such as Sarah Paulson, out of their element.
Having a full-female cast was a good choice. Ocean’s 8 proves that yet again, women can do just as good, if not better, at male roles. It was a fresh perspective on a beloved film series. This movie is the perfect symbol for how far women have come in film. Having an all-female cast is unheard of for most films, so “applause” for that. There still seems to be something missing from this movie. The backstory of Danny Ocean made the movies worth witnessing. We seem to be thrown into the plot with little explanation of current events. That is where this film is weak. I will say tthat the ending had a great resolution. The audience was able to witness what each character does with their lives after they complete the heist. I only wish more background was included towards the beginning of the film.
(06/11/18 6:53pm)
by Tanner Kinney
Square-Enix, despite being a long time publisher and developer with dozens of franchises under their wing, has spent very little time with E3 press conferences. Their last E3 showing was three years ago, where they showed trailers that were already shown at Sony’s conference that year. With two long-awaited titles in Kingdom Hearts 3 and Final Fantasy VII Remake finally happening (eventually), Square has a lot to show, with room for plenty of surprise announcements. If fans are expecting something on the level of Microsoft yesterday or Sony later tonight, they’re going to be disappointed.
After watching the event, even fans with tempered expectations were most definitely disappointed.
(06/08/18 12:27pm)
By Ian Roesler
WARNING: Major spoilers ahead for Solo: A Star Wars Story
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Solo isn’t the worst Star Wars movie; that honor falls upon The Star Wars Holiday Special, which is easily the worst thing to happen in the last two centuries.
So, this movie was a little controversial when it was announced. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to it. Regardless of how I initially felt I was planning on seeing it anyway. I’ve seen every movie up to this point, except the Holiday Special I and others felt that Han Solo is one of those characters that the less you know about him the better, like Boba Fett, who is also getting his own movie. The mystery is part of the appeal and Star Wars hasn’t had the best luck with prequels, but I thought this movie was good. Whereas the other movies would switch between a character or group of characters, such as in Empire it’ll flip between Luke on Dagobah and the others in Cloud City, this one is just Han Solo as the title would “exply” (a made-up word meaning the opposite of imply). It was more action and adventure-y than a standard Star Wars movie. It was constantly moving. The music was decent. John Powell did the music for this one. The action was great. I think there’s more positives than negatives. A big controversy about this movie was the cast.
So, if you’ve been living under a rock you probably heard about the casting controversy. They replaced an actor of a major character. Say what you will but I thought Joonas Suotamo did a great job as Chewbacca and I think he did a great job as him in The Last Jedi. You can’t blame Peter Mayhew for stepping down from the role. Thankfully they got new actors to play the younger versions of Han and Lando, instead of CGI-ing his face onto another actor like they did with Grand Moff Tarkin. That was odd and a creepy to say the least. Back to Solo, Alden Ehrenreich did an excellent job as Han Solo which is no easy task, I’m so glad they didn’t cgi a young Harrison Ford on him. Emilia Clarke plays Qi’ra, who is Han’s love interest and eventually becomes a gang leader. Woody Harrelson plays Tobias Beckett, he gets Solo and Chewie into the smuggler lifestyle. And finally, there’s Donald Glover who plays Lando Calrissian. Lando is easily the best character in this movie. Donald Glover just oozes charisma in this role. Ray Park reprises his role as Darth Maul for a brief cameo towards the end. There’s also a robot that might grate some people, as she’s like the embodiment of a social justice warrior for droids. This movie is the first in the franchise to not feature C-3PO or R2D2 in any capacity. Although I think I might have seen R2D2 in a cameo. Maybe. There’s also a main villain. He’s okay. He has a scarred face and is in charge of a large criminal empire. A human Jabba basically. Then there’s the tribal guy who’s set up as a villain but is revealed to be a good guy. So, let’s examine what the film did well, not so well, some possible complaints that others may have, and how it compares to Rogue One.
(05/31/18 11:36pm)
By Tanner Kinney
The revival of Star Wars under Disney, led by producer Kathleen Kennedy, has been much more turbulent than expected. Despite the first two films, The Force Awakens and Rogue One, being overall solid action flicks, the two most recent films have left fans and critics at odds. The Last Jedi was a well-executed film that perhaps went too far in the direction of subverting expectations, which left critics content, but incited a rebellion among fans that has so far carried into the reception of their future products. The first of which is Solo: A Star Wars Story. Fortunately for Star Wars fans, Solo is a comfy blanket of nostalgia that doesn’t try to change too much of what they know. For anyone else, the film just blends too well into the crowd of run-of-the-mill action blockbusters to be worth noticing.